What's needed to keep my refrigerator/freezer from warming during extended power outage?

[Muse]

Security issues were addressed above. I have a detached garage. The lock on it isn't the most secure, just a twisty-handled one I installed myself some years ago. Still could store there or in the house.

Now for running it, quiet as it is I was wondering if it has to be outdoors. I suppose that the issue is that it has to exhaust and running it in the house means you're filling the house with gasoline engine exhaust... a no no.

 

[NutBucket]

So, add stabilizer to the gas in the generator AND storage can(s) and you're good? Indefinitely (i.e. until needed)?

Um, how do I know if the gas I buy is E10 and not E85? I just about always buy my gas at my local Costco (Richmond, CA).

Next time you're at the pump read the labels. It reads something like "may contain up to 10% ethanol". E85 is also significantly cheaper than regular gasoline.

For storage I'd get 5 gallon jug, add stabilizer and cycle it once a year in your car.

For security just get a decent bike cable lock and find a tree.

 

[BoomerD]

Security issues were addressed above. I have a detached garage. The lock on it isn't the most secure, just a twisty-handled one I installed myself some years ago. Still could store there or in the house.

Now for running it, quiet as it is I was wondering if it has to be outdoors. I suppose that the issue is that it has to exhaust and running it in the house means you're filling the house with gasoline engine exhaust... a no no.

Dude...really?

Next time you're at the pump read the labels. It reads something like "may contain up to 10% ethanol". E85 is also significantly cheaper than regular gasoline.

For storage I'd get 5 gallon jug, add stabilizer and cycle it once a year in your car.

For security just get a decent bike cable lock and find a tree.

A cable lock MIGHT stop the generator from accidentally floating away, but won't stop a thief who actually wants it. Case-hardened chain and a GOOD padlock will stop all but the most dedicated thieves.

 

[crashtech]

It's probably fine to run it inside the detached garage IF the big door is left open, this will cut down on noise some.

 

[Muse]

Dude...really?

Heavy sarcasm?

 

[Muse]

Next time you're at the pump read the labels. It reads something like "may contain up to 10% ethanol". E85 is also significantly cheaper than regular gasoline.

For storage I'd get 5 gallon jug, add stabilizer and cycle it once a year in your car.

For security just get a decent bike cable lock and find a tree.

I have a 5 gallon plastic gasoline container, also a 1 gallon (that's been at least partially full more than a year, I think, filled it at Costco). I got the gas to use for cleaning some parts, haven't gotten around to it.

I have a couple big trees I could tether the unit to, but have been thinking I should remove them... really old plum trees, very long in the tooth and I have more dang plum jam than I need. Gotta get into landscaping.

 

[NutBucket]

Well, landscaping aside they're perfect for security purposes.

Per your question of draining fuel from the carb when storing. I seem to recall there's actually a drain and it's quite easy. See page 60:

http://cdn.powerequipment.honda.com/pe/pdf/manuals/00X31Z076230.pdf

 

[mindless1]

This is a new area you've moved to? If so, ask the neighbors what the outage frequency and duration is.

A low tech solution is keep your fridge/freezer filled, and it'll stay cold longer. Rectangular bottles of water are good for the freezer, and regular bottles of water are good for the fridge. Won't last a week or anything, but your food should be fine for 24hr outages.

Last and longest power outage I had in recent years was 4 days. The upright deep freezer in my garage has all extra space packed with ice blocks in containers, and tomatos-as-ice blocks. It was not opened during the outage and kept everything frozen, not just cold, for 4 days. Granted it was towards the end of winter so the garage peak ambient air temp was low, around 60F IIRC. That's still nearly a 30F spread above freezing temperature so I figure I'll be good for at least two days at double that (90F garage).

Having all the extra space taken up so there is much less air exchange when the door is opened, also makes it more efficient to run as I do open it at least once a day (when there isn't an outage).

 

[Greenman]

This is a new area you've moved to? If so, ask the neighbors what the outage frequency and duration is.

Last and longest power outage I had in recent years was 4 days. The upright deep freezer in my garage has all extra space packed with ice blocks in containers, and tomatos-as-ice blocks. It was not opened during the outage and kept everything frozen, not just cold, for 4 days. Granted it was towards the end of winter so the garage peak ambient air temp was low, around 60F IIRC. That's still nearly a 30F spread above freezing temperature so I figure I'll be good for at least two days at double that (90F garage).

Having all the extra space taken up so there is much less air exchange when the door is opened, also makes it more efficient to run as I do open it at least once a day (when there isn't an outage).

He's in California, fifth largest economy on earth, not far from the planets tech meca. We now shut off the power when it's windy. The reason is that we're to God Damn stupid to trim the trees away from the power lines, and we've decided that the utility is wholly responsible for any fire and damage caused by trees falling on the power lines. Service to 800,000 meters was shut off over the past day or two.

 

[Muse]

He's in California, fifth largest economy on earth, not far from the planets tech meca. We now shut off the power when it's windy. The reason is that we're to God Damn stupid to trim the trees away from the power lines, and we've decided that the utility is wholly responsible for any fire and damage caused by trees falling on the power lines. Service to 800,000 meters was shut off over the past day or two.

Yeah, it's a new era here. They never used to shut off power, IIRC. Global warming has brought wildfires to the level of the long dreaded major earthquake in California the last handful of years. One big quake in a populous zone and our nightmares shift again.

Of course, quake or wildfire threat can both cause power outage here. Probably the bigger threat is a quake where I live. If my house is ruined I may have little use for power, actually!

 

[Greenman]

Yeah, it's a new era here. They never used to shut off power, IIRC. Global warming has brought wildfires to the level of the long dreaded major earthquake in California the last handful of years. One big quake in a populous zone and our nightmares shift again.

Of course, quake or wildfire threat can both cause power outage here. Probably the bigger threat is a quake where I live. If my house is ruined I may have little use for power, actually!

I'm pretty sure we had wind before climate change, and I'm just about as certain that we had droughts as well. What changed is that Pacific Graft and Extortion stopped maintaining the infrastructure. They spent the maintenance money on bonuses and dividends.
The CPUC needs to be fired in mass, and PG&E needs to be put on a very short leash. If we're going to get third world service, then we should be paying third world prices. What they're doing is inexcusable.

 

[NutBucket]

The other problem is wildfires used to occur regularly and of course nobody was around to fight them. That's natural vegetation control.

 

[Greenman]

The other problem is wildfires used to occur regularly and of course nobody was around to fight them. That's natural vegetation control.

That and very few control vegetation around their homes. They also build them out of the wrong materials. Wood siding and shake roofs look great in a rustic wooded setting, but they burn like a match. If you live in the woods, don't build your home out of fuel.

 

[NutBucket]

Seems like most new housing built in SoCal these days have either concrete or spanish tile roofs and of course are stuccoed. It certainly helps. That wood cabin the woods is perfect for nostalgia...not fire protection!

 

[BoomerD]

He's in California, fifth largest economy on earth, not far from the planets tech meca. We now shut off the power when it's windy. The reason is that we're to God Damn stupid to trim the trees away from the power lines, and we've decided that the utility is wholly responsible for any fire and damage caused by trees falling on the power lines. Service to 800,000 meters was shut off over the past day or two.

If not the utility companies whose lines run through the treed areas, who would you suggest is responsible for trimming the trees?

PG&E has been notorious for skimping on maintenance...while paying stock dividends and executive bonuses...

 

[Greenman]

If not the utility companies whose lines run through the treed areas, who would you suggest is responsible for trimming the trees?

PG&E has been notorious for skimping on maintenance...while paying stock dividends and executive bonuses...

It's entirely PG&E's fault, no doubt about it.

 

[Muse]

It's entirely PG&E's fault, no doubt about it.

Did you see the CEO's news conferences? They hired this guy 6 months ago when the last guy stepped down. This new guy they got from the Tennessee Valley Authority, I think he was their CEO. He looks like your grandfather (if you're white) and his job this week is to be ingratiating, to take the blame for the fuckups this week, to promise they'll do better, try to get everyone's sympathy. I was falling for it but I started to think, "this guy is doing a PR number, pure and simple" and turned it off. Of course, he made no mention of the fact that PG&E had a responsibility to make their system safe and they blew it. I still think the state should take them over and make gas and electric a non-profit enterprise vetted and managed publicly. I'm thinking the time is now while people are riled up, fed up. Otherwise this will be like Sandy Hook.

 

[Sgt. York]

Did you see the CEO's news conferences? They hired this guy 6 months ago when the last guy stepped down. This new guy they got from the Tennessee Valley Authority, I think he was their CEO. He looks like your grandfather (if you're white) and his job this week is to be ingratiating, to take the blame for the fuckups this week, to promise they'll do better, try to get everyone's sympathy. I was falling for it but I started to think, "this guy is doing a PR number, pure and simple" and turned it off. Of course, he made no mention of the fact that PG&E had a responsibility to make their system safe and they blew it. I still think the state should take them over and make gas and electric a non-profit enterprise vetted and managed publicly. I'm thinking the time is now while people are riled up, fed up. Otherwise this will be like Sandy Hook.

Good god no! Why would you want the DMV to be responsible for the power grid in California? You are either mentally ill or grossly demented.

 

[Greenman]

Good god no! Why would you want the DMV to be responsible for the power grid in California? You are either mentally ill or grossly demented.

PG&E can't keep the power on when it's windy, they've killed near 100 people if you include fires and natural gas pipeline explosions. Could the state running it be that much worse?

Btw, I don't think personal attacks should be used in H&G, we're all friends here.

 

[Sgt. York]

I was speaking generically, not accusing Muse of mental problems.

Anyway, I wouldn't want Sacramento to have that power (Ha!) over us. I could honestly forsee the state government department in charge of power to deliberately target their political opponents.

 

[Greenman]

I was speaking generically, not accusing Muse of mental problems.

Anyway, I wouldn't want Sacramento to have that power (Ha!) over us. I could honestly forsee the state government department in charge of power to deliberately target their political opponents.

I get it, and to a large extent agree with you, but PG&E has demonstrably failed, and they're now punishing their customers for that failure. It has to stop.

 

[Muse]

Good god no! Why would you want the DMV to be responsible for the power grid in California? You are either mentally ill or grossly demented.

Huh? Check the top thread in this forum about the new rules against defaming members. I was going to shoot back but I will demure.

Let me just say, the DMV has zero expertise, employs exactly zero engineers. People working at the DMV could fully execute their duties without even a college education. Running the public utilities in California would require an infinitely different agency. I will now depart your company, and very willingly.

 

[Micrornd]

Hey it's Cali, why wouldn't the DMV run the power grid
Saw on the news tonight, your governor signed a law making it illegal to start middle school classes before 8am and high school classes before 8:30am.
Yep, that sure goes a long way towards preparing them for the real world

 

[Muse]

Hey it's Cali, why wouldn't the DMV run the power grid
Saw on the news tonight, your governor signed a law making it illegal to start middle school classes before 8am and high school classes before 8:30am.
Yep, that sure goes a long way towards preparing them for the real world

They can adjust as necessary to the "real world" when needed. The well established fact (research) is that kids getting up earlier and to classes earlier perform worse, don't learn as well. Getting the kids well educated takes precedence over them realizing that the world isn't on their schools' schedules.

 

[Micrornd]

They can adjust as necessary to the "real world" when needed. The well established fact (research) is that kids getting up earlier and to classes earlier perform worse, don't learn as well. Getting the kids well educated takes precedence over them realizing that the world isn't on their schools' schedules.

Cali kids must be different?
Studies here in FL showed that the kids in middle and high school learned more starting early.
By 2-2:30pm they were losing focus and by 3:30 they learned virtually nothing.
If "They can adjust as necessary to the "real world" when needed", then they can adjust to getting up early also.

When did you start classes in high school?
I started classes @ 7:00am in high school, 7:30 in middle and grade school, and I'm sure others started close to then.
What makes this generation so different that they can't adjust to a schedule?
Or maybe we should pass out participation ribbons at graduation instead of diplomas?

Sorry this got so OT.
I agree a small Honda Inverter genset is the best option , outside, under cover with a good 10 guage extension cord running to the frig/freezer only.
Don't open the frig/freezer unless you absolutely have to and you can just run the genset for about an hour every 4 hours.
That saves gas and also allows you to nap/sleep.